#e.g the ballon d'or visca el barça asdfgh

[gavidaily]

Hello! Here's the 'Revista GQ' interview from GQ in English, translated by yours truly 💖 enjoy!

Gavi, against the El Clásico: “We know the pressure we are under as we wear the Barça shirt and it’s important to have a strong mentality to withstand it”. 

To say that Gavi is a promise to Spanish football it’s an understatement. He is young, yes, a little more than 19 years old, but at his age, he already managed to consolidate himself as a reference in the Barça and Spanish National Team midfield. The future is his. So is the present. 

The genealogical line of great midfielders from the FC Barcelona youth team that reaches Gavi - the modern one, we are not going to go back to the times when football was played walking -, starts from a now almost forgotten Luis Milla - who signed for the Real Madrid in 1990 did not exactly help him go down in the history of the Blaugrana club—it follows with a certain Pep Guardiola, continues with the current Barça coach, Xavi Hérnandez, and ends with the very young player who stars in these lines: Pablo Martín Páez Gavira or, simply, Gavi (Los Palacios y Villafranca, Seville, 2004).

On that number 6 that the Sevillian wears, and that curiously Xavi also carried on his back, lies all the weight and responsibility not only for the team's victories but also for preserving the style, that intangible heritage of the club that they treasure in the Camp Nou with the same greed as its Leagues or Champions Leagues, and with which the culés like to ruin the victories of others, if they do not respond to that slow play, possession of the ball and touch to the foot. So a player like Gavi is naturally asked to help the team win titles; but, above all, that, like a chef de cave or a master distiller, he ensures that the mix, different each season, of players of different ages and origins that make up the FC Barcelona squad, always has the same aroma and the same flavor. The same style.

Too much responsibility for a kid who is barely 19 years old? From what is seen on the field, both in his club and in the National Team - with which he debuted on September 30, 2021, and in which he also acts as guardian of a style, the famous tiki taka - it does not seem so. While it is true that young players increasingly show greater self-confidence on the field - perhaps because the adolescence and maturity of athletes, like that of the rest of the kids, has come a little earlier - Gavi's performance is from another galaxy. Not in vain, he has been compared since he made his debut in the First Division, on August 29, 2021 against Getafe CF, with his current coach, Xavi Hernández. Both are technical and elegant, although Gavi probably has a tougher profile as well. Unlike Xavi, who inherited a squad at its peak, Gavi has had a club in bankruptcy and under construction, entangled in great sporting and economic difficulties. Which did not prevent him from winning LaLiga last season.

We photographed him just after playing a street party with some kids in a sports center in Santa Coloma de Gramanet (and giving them, in the process, the surprise of their lives), as part of an action by his sponsor Nike. Due to their age, one of those kids could one day replace Gavi himself in the midfield, or even play side by side with him. For now, that future of the club belongs to its current number 6, and it is in his hands to lead another glorious era like that of Messi, Iniesta, Pujol, Piqué and Busquets, under the command of the current Pedri , Ferran, Yamal or Balde. Although what he has in front of him, for the moment, is a very brilliant present.

INTERVIWER: You have relatively recently completed your first 100 games for Barcelona. What assessment do you make? What grade would you give yourself as a player?

GAVI: It is an incredible mark. I always dreamed of playing in the Barça first team and having already played 100  games is something impressive. I hope to accomplish many more. I'm not one to give myself notes. I am still a young player with a lot of room for growth. My goal is to continue working hard to continue improving as a footballer every day.

I: Last year you received the Kopa Trophy that France Football magazine awards to the best young player of the year. What does such an award mean to you?

G: It was an incredible recognition, but even if it was awarded to me it would have been impossible to achieve it without the help of all my colleagues. I am very grateful to all of them, to the staff that helps me continue improving every day and in general to the club that has always trusted me. It is another motivation to win these types of prestigious awards and that invites me to continue fighting to go as far as possible in my career.

I: When you see yourself as a footballer, what do you think you need to improve or learn?

G: As I said, I'm still very young, so both the coach, the staff and my teammates help me in every training session to continue improving as a footballer. I always try to listen to them and put their advice into practice without giving up my personality as a footballer.

I: Were you a Xavi fan when you were a child?

G: Yes of course. Xavi has been one of Barça's best players and one of the best midfielders in the history of football. It was impossible not to be a fan of his... I always loved watching him play and seeing how his play influenced the game.

I: Has having a legend in that position as a coach especially helpful for your progression?

G: It always helps that the coach was a footballer because he understands us perfectly. Furthermore, as I said, he is Barça history and he knows perfectly well what it means to play for this club and do so in the midfield position. His vision of football helps me a lot and he has helped me grow as a footballer since he arrived.

I: Is directing Barcelona's midfield a big responsibility for such a young player?

G: It is always a responsibility to play for Barça and especially for the midfielders, since we have to start building the game from our position. Fortunately we have a very complete squad and great players in the midfield with different virtues. We all contribute to following that style that has always characterized Barça.

I: Because of your age, you're probably playing with or against players you idolized until very recently. What is that feeling like?

G: Sharing the stage with people you dreamed of when you were little is always a nice thing... But once the referee whistles, I'm always focused 100% on the game and I forget about any distractions.

I: Who have been your idols in football?

G: Many. Fortunately, my generation has been very lucky because it grew up with a very successful moment for both the National Team and Barça when we were little. It would be very difficult to stay with just one.

I: Do you remember the Spanish team's final in South Africa well or were you too young?

G: It was small, but I remember it well. Impossible to forget Iniesta's goal …

I: You have lived your childhood in a time of great football and sports joys, instead of great frustrations. Do you think that gives a different mentality to those of your generation?

G: Since I was little I have always enjoyed playing and at the same time I have pushed myself to the maximum to win as much as possible.

I: Do Spanish players of your generation have a more winning mentality, without complexes?

G: Yes, I see that winning mentality in all the teammates who rise to the first team from youth football and also those from the National Team. The world of football is a very competitive and winning world and we all fight for the same thing, to win.

I: How did you start playing soccer?

G: I started playing for my hometown team, Liara Balompié. From there I jumped to Betis youth football where I spent a few years and when I was 10 we received a proposal from Barça and we didn't think about it.

I: Do you miss having a more normal adolescence?

G: When you do what you like, you don't think about anything other than focusing on your career as a footballer. I always dreamed of getting where I am today and I hope to continue enjoying football at this level for a long time.

I: What is your life like in Barcelona? What kinds of things do you like to do when you're not working?

G: I lead a very quiet life. I like to spend time with my family and my friends. When I'm at home I love watching football, both national and games from other leagues.

I: What hobbies do you have off the field? Do you love fashion? Do you have a favorite designers? Do you learn about fashion in the Barça locker room?

G: I like fashion, yes. What I value most is being comfortable. For example, now that I'm wearing these Air Max and this Tech Fleece tracksuit, I feel perfect. I like to dress with style, but without giving up comfort. I don't have favorite designers. It is true that in the locker room you see many styles. Each one has their own.

I: How do you get along with your locker roommates? Who has helped you the most to grow within the team and as a footballer?

G: The truth is that there is a very healthy atmosphere in the group. It is a very young team where the veterans help a lot to those who come up. I have a good relationship with all of them, so it is very difficult to stay with just one. Everyone helps me to be better every day. Just by training with them, one improves.

I: You have had to live through a transition period at Barça. How does such a young player deal with the mental issue of football defeats or disappointments? How do you stay motivated?

G: The motivation is always in the next game. Playing for Barça means always aspiring for everything, so on occasions where that doesn't happen we always have a new opportunity in three or four days to continue fighting for titles. We know the pressure we are under when wearing this shirt and it is important to have great mental strength to withstand it.

I: Who do you lean on in difficult times?

G: In my family and my friends. They never fail.

I: What did the victory in LaLiga mean to you ?

G: It was amazing. I've always dreamed of winning it and doing it after a few years was spectacular. The fans deserved it and we hope to continue offering them titles.

I: What are your personal and collective goals this season?

G: Always try to give their best and continue improving day by day. I try to contribute one hundred percent to the team so that as a collective we always go as far as possible.

I: FC Barcelona has a very powerful women's team. What do you think of the success of the Spanish women's soccer team in the World Championship?

G: It is impressive what they have achieved. Winning a World Cup is the most a footballer can aspire to and the growth that women's football has had in Spain in recent years is spectacular. I am very happy for all of them.

I: Do you think that disciplines such as sports or culture, which have a powerful speaker, should be more active when it comes to giving visibility to social problems (racism, homophobia, gender violence...)?

It is true that we have a very important speaker. Together, we have to help solve society's problems.

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